Welcome home, Junix

INOCIAN. Returns to the Philippine stage.

QUITE a number of the original Pinoy talents who first figured prominently in the “Miss Saigon” musical in London have come home to share what they’ve learned from performing internationally.

Lea Salonga is currently based here, with occasional performing forays abroad. Monique Wilson started her New Voice theater company and school, and also teaches in London. Isay Alvarez and Robert Seña opened their Spotlight Artists Center and are busy with theater and TV assignments. Cocoy Laurel performs in musicals. Michael Williams started his own theater group “down South.” Bicong del Rosario has his talent school in Cavite. Pinky Amador acts on TV and teaches acting.

One of the few “original Pinoys” in “Miss Saigon” who hasn’t come home to perform here in years is Junix Inocian. He started out as a member of the ensemble in London, but worked his way up to eventually playing the male lead role of The Engineer (which was also essayed by other Pinoy standouts like Leo Valdez, Seña, Laurel, Del Rosario and Bobby Martino).

Junix eventually settled down in Europe, performing in a number of other shows and productions, like “Cats.” While we celebrate his achievements in “international” theater, we wish that, like many of his “Saigon” “cograduates,” he could come home for a spell to show us how far he’s come along as a performer.

Well, we’re finally getting our wish—Junix is gracing the Repertory Philippines stage in the “goth” musical, “Jekyll & Hyde,” where he’s cast as Gabriel John Utterson, Jekyll’s lawyer and friend.

It isn’t the lead role, but any performance by Junix is a should-see in our book. Our hope is that the actor-singer’s current “home leave” will be such a pleasant and “battery-charging” experience that he will opt to perform here more often. Performances run from March 16 to April 15. Call 571-6926 or 891-9999.

What now, Matteo?

One of the season’s rising TV-film stars is sportsman turned actor, Matteo Guidicelli. His fairly recent outings include “Binondo Girl” on TV and “My Cactus Heart” on the big screen. He’s also been given some hosting chores, so his long-range career path appears to have been clearly mapped out for him.

Sometimes, however, plans miscarry, or don’t end up as hunky-dory as originally envisioned. In “Binondo Girl,” Matteo was edged off to the periphery of the show’s spotlight by the more interesting portrayal turned in by another relative newcomer, Xian Lim.

And, in “My Cactus Heart,” Matteo’s “edgy” and “wacko” male-lead performance similarly failed to heat up the screen, sometimes through no fault of his own. —That’s just the way the starmaking game goes—even with everything  going an actor’s way, it often still doesn’t result in definitive success or certified stardom.

Was it a case of too much, too soon? Of the right build-up roles going to the wrong actor? Whatever. The point is that Matteo still needs a third TV or film showcase to prove that he is worth the breaks he’s been getting. For the third time to be the charm, however, make sure the star and role combination is a perfect fit, OK?